Children's Home run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 1 Registered provider: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 2 children, who may have social and emotional difficulties, and who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since the home was registered in March 2026. The manager also registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 2

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Summary of findings

One child has lived in this home since it registered with Ofsted. The child has benefitted from receiving bespoke care from staff who are committed and caring. This helps the child to make good progress. The leadership and management of this home is exceptional. The manager is highly influential in ensuring that the child has the best experiences possible, so they have an enjoyable time. Staff make sure that the child feels loved and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between the child and staff is strong. The child’s move into the home was well planned and at a pace that met the child’s needs. Consequently, the child was able to develop positive and trusting relationships with staff prior to moving into the home. Interactions between the child and staff are warm, caring and appropriately light-hearted. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and vulnerabilities and provide care that has helped the child to make good progress from their stating point.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s preferred methods of communication and consistently support and promote these methods. For example, staff have supported the child to use a ‘loud and proud voice’ when communicating and this has helped the child to make their views known. This also helps the child to participate fully in their daily life. In addition, the child has access to an independent advocate who supports the child to share their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff assist the child to have multiple new experiences such as having their first birthday party, going on a summer holiday, learning to ride a bicycle, and having friends to stay for a sleepover. Staff support the child to integrate into the community by encouraging the child to make friends in the local area. In addition, the staff respond quickly to promoting the child’s interests and have enrolled them in a local football club. This has led to the child receiving recognition for their skills and talent as a footballer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of the child maintaining links with their family members. Staff support the child to spend time with friends and family. This has helped the child to start to develop their relationship with their siblings and keep in touch with their parents. The staff, who work in close partnership with the child’s social worker, carefully plan family time so it is a positive experience for the child and their family members. This helps to promote the child’s identity and heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s plans are comprehensive and capture the child’s known and emerging needs and vulnerabilities. They are ambitious and forward thinking. Clear goals are identified and carefully monitored so that staff, leaders and managers and professionals understand the progress that the child is making and the areas they need further Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 3 support with. This means that staff provide care that is purposeful and helps the child and others to understand and celebrate the child’s achievements.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child’s safety and wellbeing are paramount. Due to the positive relationships that the child has with staff, the child has trusted adults that they can talk to when they need help and support. Conversations that the staff have with the child help them to become increasingly safe. In addition, the child’s relationships with external professionals are promoted by the manager and staff and this helps the child to build a support network outside of the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There are clear plans in place that support staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in helping and protecting the child. Staff understand these plans well. This has meant that the child has rarely become distressed. On the one occasion where the child became upset, this incident was managed well, and the child was helped to quickly recover through kind and caring conversations and guidance.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There are strong working relationships between the manager, staff, and external professionals. The quality of these relationships and good levels of communication help to keep the child safe while in the home and community.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager has a robust system in place to ensure that all health and safety checks within the home are complied with by staff. This, alongside a regular review of the suitability of the location of the home promotes a safe living environment for the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager is diligent in ensuring that safer recruitment processes are followed. Where staff practice falls below required standards, leaders and managers are quick to address this with staff. This helps to ensure that only suitable adults work in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This home is led and managed by an inspirational and innovative manager who strives for excellence. He is enthusiastic about his vision for this home and of making a significant difference to children’s lives. The manager is ambitious for children and aspires for any child who lives in this home to feel loved and develop a strong sense of stability and belonging. He has high expectations of his staff team and leads the home in a way that inspires confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by an equally aspirational senior leadership team that shares the manager’s vision and leaders trust him to manage the home in way that supports children to thrive. Staff have confidence in both the manager and senior leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale in this home is high and the child benefits from a stable and cohesive staff team. Staff feel supported in their roles and feel valued. Staff share the manager’s vision and enthusiasm and are confident and proud of what they do. They enjoy working in this home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 4 The manager has worked tirelessly to create a strong learning culture using evidence- based models that support reflection and challenge among staff. Staff’s wellbeing and development are promoted through regular supervision which is reflective and underpinned by research. Staff can contribute to developments within the home through team meetings and access to high-quality training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight is excellent. Leaders and managers understand what is working well and what the areas for development are. This strong oversight means that plans are quickly put in place to ensure that the quality of care provided continually develops and has a positive impact for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The quality and strength of the manager’s relationships with external professionals and those living in the local community is exceptional. The manager is highly influential in ensuring that all adults involved in the child’s life communicate well and work towards a shared set of goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All aspects of this home are well organised. For example, children’s records are up to date, detailed and are written in a way that is kind and caring. This will help the child to understand their time in the home and how they have been helped. There are clear routines, which promotes stability and predictability for children. The home environment is warm, welcoming and highly personalised to the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made during this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Riverside House, Main Street, Rotherham, S60 1AE

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Inspector

Shirin Khan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2879848 7 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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